When someone says their engine is pinging, due to bad gas or ignition problems etc, what does it sound like? Does it do it at idle or just under acceleration? Does it sound like that noise of heat expansion when you turn your car off and its hot? like that tick/drip type sound every now and again? I'm lost and trying to help a friend out because I think his mechanic is bs'n him.

Thanks guys.

 

When my old engine was pinging real bad, it sounds like a lawn mower everytime I accelerated. Like a constant clicking sound.

 

did it do it at idle? or only when you gave it gas? Ping to me sounds like a high pitch noise, but from what I read its more like a valve tick type noise like a machine gun when you press the gas pedal

 

no it won't do it at idle it'll only do it when your accelerating.

the only way i can describe it is it sounds like stones rattling around in your exhaust

how you described it pretty much sums it up

 

A ping sounds like a diesel on a lesser scale because the engine is "knocking" which is caused by the burn temp being to high for the octane gas, a lean condition, and advanced timing.

 

Thats right, sounds like click click click out of the engine. You will hear it only when you accelerat. Now if you hear it on ilde then you have valve problem. Try some higher octan gas...

 

I wouldnt just use higher octance gas...it may work but the engine issue is still there..your car was meant to burn on 91 if it isnt running right on 91 then theres a problem and you should fix it. Check your timing. If it is advanced adjust your dizzy a little bit retarded to get the knock to go away. If you have a lean condition check for any stored codes, and check 02 sensors. A lot of lean conditions are EGR valves stuck open pouring in exhaust innert gasses into the cylinder which can also cause a knock.

 

Pinging can happen at either idle or acceleration. Try the highest octane gas you can purchase, and a bottle of octane boost. If it goes away, you'll know you have spark knock. It usually sounds like metallic pinging, but if bad enough can sound like dull knocking as well.

 

it cannot happen at idle

 

w3rd, didn't happen at idle , just under acceleration, and my engine was real fucked up

 

You're right. Pinging won't happen at idle, but can happen at part throttle if bad enough.

 

is it loud??

 

Drive next to a wall on the freeway and accelerate, if you hear a noise that sounds like a bunch of marbles bouncing around your motor is pinging.

 

Is it consistent, or erratic? I am asking cause I hear some noise during acceleration, more of a consistent ticking that in my mind seems like noisy injectors or something. No codes, but my sparkplugs are in the "whiter" side. Hmmm...

 

PM bump.

 

Never heard of a loud injector in my life....

Your problem sounds like engine knock....

Did you read what everyone else said it sounded like??

 

Wouldn't white plugs indicate it's running lean? Is the engine stock?

 

I/H/E/P. Yes I can read. 4.6LJeepXJ... you are not beneficial to this conversation. My lude has been running like this for a year now. How long can an engine run with spark knock? I know that it is not an exact measurement of A/F ratio, but my narrow band A/F gauge is always reading rich, and preludes are notorious for running rich sooo....